Steroidal intermediates



Patented Aug. 8, 1961 dice ' wherein the 1,2-position is saturated or double bonded; Z is chloro, bromo or iodo; and Y is hydrogen or the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than ten carbon atoms, e.g., the lower alkanoic acids as exemplified by acetic, propionic, and heptanoic acids; the lower alkenoic acids, the ar-(lower)alkanoic acids as exempli- 6C1aims, (CL 2 fied by oc-tOllliC acid and fi-phenylpropionic acids; the cycloalkanoic acids as exemplified by cy-clopentyl propionic This invention relates to, and has for its object the acid; the cycloalkenoic acids, and the aromatic acids as provision of a method for preparing physiologically ac- 10 exemplified by 0, m and p-methylbenzoic acids. tive steroids, involving the preparation of new steroidal Compounds of Formula E are useful as intermediates intermediates of this invention. in the preparation of other steroids having pharmacologi- Thus, in accordance with this invention there is procal activity. Thus they can be converted to the 16fl-Z- vided a method for the synthesis of compounds of the 17a-acyloXy-derivatives of Formula F, as by treatment formula with a strong acid, e.-g., perchloric acid, and an acid an- CHZOY hydride, e.g., acetic anhydride. Compounds of formula F are then treated in an acidic aqueous medium with a salt of a strong base and a weak acid, such as sodium acetate, to yield the corresponding 6u-fiuoro-16a-acyloxyz 20 17a-hydro-xy derivatives of Formula G, which are then hydrolyzed to the corresponding 16ot-hydroxy-derivatives.

2,995,550 STEROID AL INTERMEDIATES Josef Fried, Princeton, and Patrick A. Diassi, Westfield,

N.J., assignors to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corpora- 5 tion, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia No Drawing. Filed Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 22,672

The latter can be converted, by known procedures, to 6a-fluoro-16a-hydroxy-hydrocortisone and 6a-fluoro-16w hydroXy-prednisolone, having thymolytic and anti-inflamatory activity.

The processes of this invention are represented sche- (E) matically by the following equations:

(IJHZOY cmoY CHgOY i d1"? 5 0g T AQQU 0 1,2-unsaturated) CHaOY XIII. (Y=Y=acetyl, 1,2-saturated) XIV. (Y=Y=acetyl, 1,2-unsaturated) wherein A is a lower alkylene radical, preferably having two or three carbon atoms in the chain as exemplified by ethylene and propylene; Z is iodo, bromo or chloro; Q is oxo when Y is acyloxy, and lower alkylenedioxy when Y is hydrogen; Y is the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than ten carbon atoms, such as the lower alkanoic acids (e.g., acetic propionic, n-butyric, and enanthic acid), lower alkenoic acids, lower cycloalkanoic acids, lower cycloalkenoic acids, monocyclic aryl carboxylic acids (e.g., benzoic acid), and monocyclicaralkanoic acids (e.g., phenylacetic acid); Y is hydrogen or Y; and the 1,2-position is saturated or double bonded.

Compound E can be prepared by first treating compounds of Formula A with a ketalizing agent such as a lower alkanediol (e.g., ethylene glycol and propylene glycol) in acid medium thereby formingthe 3-alkylene dioxy-20-Q-2l-OY-A -pregnene of Formula B wherein Q is alkylenedioxy when Y is H, or Q is keto (oxo when Y is acyl. Compounds B are then epoxidized across the 5,6-unsat-uration by treatment with an organic peracid such as perphthalic, perbenzoic and peracetic acids to yield the diepoxy compounds of Formula C. The latter are treated with a fiuorinating agent such as boron trifluoride, thereby selectively opening the epoxy group in the 5a,6u-position and introducing a *5a-hydroxy and a 6/3-fluoro-group thus yielding compounds D. Compounds D are then treated with a hydrogen halide (e.g. HBr, HI and HCl) in a lower alkanoic acid (e.g. acetic acid) to simultaneously hydrolyze oif the ketal groups, introduce a double bond in the 4,5-position by dehydration and invert the 6/3-fluoro group, thereby yielding compound E wherein the 1,2-position is saturated. If a 1,2-unsaturated derivative is desired, it is formed by microbiological XVI. (1,2-saturated) XVI. (1,2-unsaturated) Analysis.Calcd for C H O C, 69.74; H, 7.96. Found: C, 69.72; H, 8.06.

Following the procedure of Example 1 except for the substitution as starting material of 16a,l7a-oXido-A -pregnene-2l-ol-3,20-dione (II), there is obtained as product, 16a,17a-oxido-A -pregnene-3,20-bis(ethylene ketal) (IV).

EXAMPLE 2 5a,6a;16a,17ot-di0xid0 pregnane-ZI-ol-ZO-one 3-ethylene ketal 21 -acetate (V) Analysis.--Calcd for C H O (446.52): C, 67.24; H, 7.68. Found: C, 67.21; H, 7.46.

Further addition of hexane to the acetone mother liquor causes precipitation of the corresponding 53,65-oxide 1,2-dehydrogenation with Bacterium cyclooxydzms as described in US. Patent No. 2,822,318.

The following examples are presented for the purpose of more fully illustrating the present invention (all temperatures being expressed in degrees ccntigrade):

EXAMPLE 1 160a,] 7a-0xido-A -pregnene-21-ol-20-dne 3-ethylene ketal 21-acetate (III) A solution of 5.0 g. of 16m,l7a-oxidodesoxycorticosterone 2l-acetate (I) in a mixture of 5 ml. of ethylene glycol and 165 ml. of benzene is refluxed for 1 hour using a Dean Stark separator for collecting the distilled water. To this solution 332 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid is added and the mixture is refluxed for 4 hours with stirring.

having the following properties: M.P. about 176-178, ]D

taxi? 5.72, 5.81,.

Analysis.--Found:.C, 67.44; H, 7.63. Following the procedure of Example 2 except for the substitution of 16a,17a-oxido-A -pregnene-21-ol-3,20-bis The reaction mixture is cooled and extracted with 'satu- Addition of hexane to the concentrated solution gives about 2.1 g. of the crystalline product (III) of the following properties: M.P. about 168-170"; [a] +25.3 chlf.);

ethylene ketal (IV) there is readily obtained as product the compound 5u,6a;16a,17a-dioxido-pregnane-21-ol-3,20- bis ethylene ketal (VI).

EXAMPLE 3 6 B-fluaro-I 6 11,1 7 a-oxidopregnane-b' 0:,21 -a'iol-2 0-0ne 3-ethylene ketal 21 -acetate (VIII) about 1.97 g. of VII having the following properties:

M.P. about 173-175; [u] +22.5 (chlf.);

AER none; Am? 2.91, 5.74, 5.80, 8.17 1

Analysis.-Calcd for C H O F: C, 64.36; H, 7.56; F, 4.07. Found: C, 64.55; H, 7.76; F, 3.94.

Similarly, by substituting an equivalent amount of Set, 6u;16o;,17a-dioxido pregnane-21-ol-3,20-bis-ethylene ketal for the dioxide in the procedure of Example 3, 6/8-fluoro- 16a,17a-oxidopregnane-5a,21-diol 3,20-bis-ethylene ketal (VIII) is obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 6a-flu0r0-16B-bromo-M-pregnene-I 7 a,21 -dil-3,20-dione 21 -acetate (IX) To a solution of 100 mg. of 6fl-fil1OIO-16oc,17oc-0Xid0- pregnane-og21-diol-20-one 21-acetate S-ethylene ketal (VII) in 1 m1. of acetic acid, is added 0.1 m1. of 33% HBr in acetic acid and the reaction mixture is left at room temperature for two hours. It is then diluted with water, extracted with chloroform and the chloroform extract washed with dilute sodium bicarbonate and water. The chloroform extract is evaporated to dryness and the residue crystallized from acetone-hexane to give about 71 mg. of 6u-fluoro-16B-bromo-A -pregnene-17a,21-diol- 3,20-dione 21-acetate (IX) having the following properties: M.P. about 139-140; [a] -]-69.0 (chlf.);

A223? 234 m (e=14,700) 2.90, 5.76, 5.82, 6.00, 6.18

Analysis.Calcd for C H O FBr: C, 56.91; H, 6.23; Br, 16.47. Found: C, 57.36; H, 6.52; Br, 16.62.

Following the procedure of Example 4 except for the substitution of 6,8-fiuoro-16a,17a-oxidopregnane-5a,21- diol 3,20-bis(ethylene ketal) (VIII) as the starting steroid material there is obtained as product the compound 60cfluoro-l6,3-bromo-M-pregnene-17a,21-diol-3,20-dione.

The corresponding 16,8-ch1oro and 16/3-iodo-compounds are obtained by the procedure of Example 4 when VII is treated with HCl and HI, respectively.

The A -derivatives of IX is obtained by subjecting it to dehydrogenation with the enzymes of Bacterium cycleoxydans in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 of US. Patent No. 2,822,318 and separating the product X from the fermentation broth.

EXAMPLE 5 To a stirred suspension of 500 mg. of 6oc-fl110l'O-16/3- bromo A pregnene 1704,21 diol-3,20-dione 21-acetate (DC) in 100 ml. of acetic anhydride, is added 0.2 ml. of a solution of 0.1 m1. of 70% perchloric acid in 10 ml. of acetic anhydride. The mixture is stirred for 30 minutes during which time the steroid dissolves giving a dark solution which is then poured onto ice and stirred vigorously until the acetic anhydride is hydrolyzed. The mixture is extracted with chloroform and the chloroform extract neutralized with sodium bicarbonate, washed again with water and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane gives about 270 mg. of XI having the following characteristics: M.P. about 161-163;

A223? 234 m (e=16,000); x3 19 5.78, 6.05; 6.20

Analysis.Calcd for C H O Br-F: C, 56.93; H, 6.12; F, 3.62. Found: C, 56.75; H, 6.17; F, 3.56.

Compound XI upon A -dehydrogenation as described hereinbefore yields Got-fluoro-16fl-bromo-A -pregnadiene- 17cc,21diol-3,20-dione 17,21-diacetate (XII).

EXAMPLE 6 6 au0r0-A -pregnene-16uJ 7 0:,21 -triol-3,20-di0ne 16,21-diacetate (XIII) A solution of 596 mg. of Gut-fluoro-l6fi-bromo-A -pregnene17a,21-diol-3,20-dione 17,2l-diacetate (XI) and 1 g.

of sodium acetate in 20 ml. of acetic acid is heated on a steam bath for 3 hours. The solution is then cooled, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract is washed well with Water and evaporated to dryness. Crystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane gives about 310 mg. of 6a-fluoro-A -pregnene-16a,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione 16,21-diacetate (XIII) of the following characteristics: M.P. about (bubbling 202204; [a] -|38.3 (chlf);

A553 235 m (e=.14,000) 2.90, 5.74-5.80, 5.90, 6.00, 6.18,.

Analysis.-Calcd for C25H33O7F (464.50): C, 64.64; H, 7.16; F, 4.09. Found: C, 64.71; H, 7.22; F, 4.07.

Compound XIII is converted to its A -derivative (XIV) by fermentative A -dehydrogenation with B. cyclooxydans.

EtOH mux.

235 m (e=17,200); A232 2.89, 5.84, 5.99, 6.19;

Analysis.Calcd for C H O F: C, 66.30; H, 7.68. Found: C, 65.80; H, 7.68.

A -dehydrogenation of XV, as described hereinbefore yields the corresponding A -derivative (XVI).

This invention may be variously otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A steroid of the formula:

' --0 j 0 I (lower alkylene wherein Y is the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid having less than ten carbon atoms.

2. A steroid of the formula:

0 (lower alkylene I wherein Y is the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid having less than ten carbon atoms,

7 3. A steroid of the formula:

wherein Y is the acyl radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid having less than ten carbon atoms.

4. A steroid of the formula C H: O H

(lower alkylene) 0 y (lower alkylene 8 5. A steroid of the formula CHaOH (lower alkylene) 6. A steroid of the formula CHzOH 0 i Y (1ower alkylene) V I O Y (lower alkylenei I t OHF References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Spero et a1.

Apr. 7, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Antonucci et al.: J. Org. Chem., vol. 17, pages 1369- Bowers et al.: I.A.C.S., vol. 80, pages 4423-4424 

1. A STEROID OF THE FORMULA:
 3. A STEROID OF THE FORMULA: 